Folic Acid Deficiency (Folic Acid Deficiencies)

A nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of FOLIC ACID in the diet. Many plant and animal tissues contain folic acid, abundant in green leafy vegetables, yeast, liver, and mushrooms but destroyed by long-term cooking. Alcohol interferes with its intermediate metabolism and absorption. Folic acid deficiency may develop in long-term anticonvulsant therapy or with use of oral contraceptives. This deficiency causes anemia, macrocytic anemia, and megaloblastic anemia. It is indistinguishable from vitamin B 12 deficiency in peripheral blood and bone marrow findings, but the neurologic lesions seen in B 12 deficiency do not occur. (Merck Manual, 16th ed)

Also Known As:

Networked: 583 relevant articles (17 outcomes, 52 trials/studies)

Relationship Network

Disease Context: Research Results

Related Diseases

1.	Anemia
2.	Hyperhomocysteinemia
3.	Iron Deficiencies
4.	Vitamin B 12 Deficiency (Vitamin B12 Deficiency)
5.	Inflammation (Inflammations)

Experts

1.	Sun, Andy: 40 articles (07/2022 - 04/2015)
2.	Wu, Yang-Che: 36 articles (07/2022 - 04/2015)
3.	Wu, Yu-Hsueh: 36 articles (07/2022 - 12/2016)
4.	Wang, Yi-Ping: 29 articles (02/2021 - 04/2015)
5.	Chang, Julia Yu-Fong: 26 articles (07/2022 - 04/2015)
6.	Chiang, Chun-Pin: 26 articles (07/2022 - 04/2015)
7.	Yu-Fong Chang, Julia: 12 articles (04/2022 - 08/2017)
8.	Chen, Hsin-Ming: 10 articles (09/2019 - 04/2015)
9.	Jin, Ying-Tai: 9 articles (04/2022 - 03/2020)
10.	Huang, Guowei: 6 articles (06/2022 - 12/2015)

Drugs and Biologics

Drugs and Important Biological Agents (IBA) related to Folic Acid Deficiency:

1.	Vitamin B 12 (Cyanocobalamin)FDA LinkGeneric 09/01/2020 - "In our study, 215 patients with cobalamin, folic acid deficiency were treated accordingly till complete restoration of clinical and laboratory abnormalities. " 01/01/2015 - "1. To study the prevalence of vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency in the population of western Maharashtra. " 01/01/2015 - "This study summarizes the prevalence of vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency in the population coming to tertiary care center in Western Maharashtra along with the main presenting symptom routinely misinterpreted in daily practice. " 01/01/2015 - "A study of the prevalence of serum vitamin B12 and folic Acid deficiency in Western maharashtra." 11/01/2014 - "Chile is the longest country in the world running perfectly North-South making it an ideal place to study potential associations of latitude and solar radiation on vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency. "
2.	IronIBA 01/01/2015 - "Overall the structured teaching programme was found effective in improving the knowledge and attitude of adolescent girls in prevention of iron and folic acid deficiency anaemia." 01/01/2015 - "The study revealed that during pre-test 90 percent of them had inadequate knowledge and 65 percent of them had unfavourable attitude towards iron and folic acid deficiency anaemia. " 01/01/2015 - "A study conducted to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on knowledge and attitude of adolescent girls in prevention of iron and folic acid deficiency anaemia at a selected corporation school. " 04/16/2023 - "Considering the growing concern of iron and folic acid deficiency, encapsulation of these nutrients and fortification into foods is emerging as an effective counter-strategy. " 01/01/2023 - "Taiwanese male B12-deficient OSF patients have high frequencies of blood Hb, serum iron and folic acid deficiencies, and serum GPCA positivity. "
3.	Folic Acid (Vitamin M)FDA LinkGeneric 11/01/1961 - "The plasma clearance of injected doses of folic acid as an index of folic acid deficiency." 01/01/2022 - "The study indicates that the expression of Rad54 is downregulated by folic acid deficiency via DNA methylation. This may be one of the mechanisms of sperm DNA damage caused by folate deficiency." 06/01/2021 - "Our study found that the awareness of the Saudi women was poor in identifying the generic name of folic acid, recognising the sources of folic acid, the correct dose of folic acid, and the side effects of high doses of folic acid and that there was good knowledge about the importance of folic acid, the consequences of folic acid deficiency, and the belief that even non-pregnant women and girls of childbearing age should take folic acid." 10/01/2018 - "Given the low prevalence of folic acid deficiency observed in this and similar studies, and the observed change with supplementation, we conclude that routine measurement of serum folate is of limited clinical use." 12/06/2016 - "Objective: The study aimed to assess the folic acid status of lactating women in China and to analyze factors related to folic acid deficiency in these subjects. "
4.	Hemoglobins (Hemoglobin)IBA 01/01/1953 - "[Study of some properties of hemoglobin in the syndrome of folic acid deficiency in the rat]." 10/01/2017 - "His hemoglobin level was 2.8 g/dL owing to folic acid deficiency stemming from alcohol abuse and consumption of unbalanced meals. " 08/01/2017 - "GPCA-/microcytosis patients had significantly greater frequencies of hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies and of RBC count > 5 × 1012/L than healthy controls. " 03/01/2018 - "The frequencies of macrocytosis (mean corpuscular volume or MCV ≧ 100 fL) and blood hemoglobin (Hb), iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies were determined and compared between any two of the four groups of 149 male OSF, 23 male GPCA+/OSF, and 126 male GPCA-/OSF patients and 149 age-matched male healthy control subjects. " 10/01/2021 - "Moreover, both 70 GPCA+TGA-TMA-BMS patients and 553 GPCA-TGA-TMA-BMS patients had significantly greater frequencies of macrocytosis, blood hemoglobin, serum iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia than 442 healthy control subjects (all P-values < 0.05). "
5.	ErythropoietinFDA Link 01/01/2006 - "Folic acid deficiency modifies the haematopoietic response to recombinant human erythropoietin in maintenance dialysis patients." 01/01/2000 - "Erythropoietin, folic acid deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia: is there a possible relationship in chronically hemodialyzed patients?" 02/01/1990 - "Anaemia in rheumatoid arthritis: the role of iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiency, and erythropoietin responsiveness." 02/01/1990 - "Thirty six patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (25 with anaemia) were studied to establish the role of iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiency, erythropoietin responsiveness, and iron absorption in the diagnosis and pathogenesis of anaemia in RA. " 10/07/2009 - "However, over the last 10 years a number of studies have been conducted and the most relevant conclusions obtained are: (1) anemia is quite common in IBD; (2) although in many cases anemia parallels the clinical activity of the disease, many patients in remission have anemia, and iron, vitamin B12 and/or folic acid deficiency; (3) anemia, and also iron deficiency without anemia, have important consequences in the clinical status and quality of life of the patient; (4) oral iron can lead to gastrointestinal intolerance and failure of treatment; (5) intravenous iron is an effective and safe way to treat iron deficiency; (6) erythropoietin is needed in a significant number of cases to achieve normal hemoglobin levels. "
6.	HomocysteineIBA 02/01/2020 - "Several studies highlighted a correlation between folic acid deficiency and high plasma homocysteine concentration, considered a risk factor for multifactorial diseases. " 04/15/2015 - "These results suggest that elevated levels of homocysteine only, as a result of dietary folic acid deficiency, don't lead to memory impairments and neurobiochemical changes. " 03/01/2015 - "Folic acid deficiency may also influence serum homocysteine concentrations. " 07/13/2005 - "We report that dietary folic acid deficiency dramatically increased blood homocysteine levels and significantly reduced the number of proliferating cells in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus in adult mice. " 01/01/2004 - "Serum total homocysteine levels and the prevalence of folic acid deficiency and C677T mutation at the MTHFR gene in an indigenous population of Amazonia: the relationship of homocysteine with other cardiovascular risk factors."
7.	Saccharated Ferric Oxide (Venofer)FDA Link 06/01/2012 - "A number of studies have been conducted and the most relevant conclusions obtained are:(1)anemia is quite common in IBD; (2)although in many cases anemia parallels the clinical activity of the disease, many patients in remission have anemia, and iron, vitamin B12 and/or folic acid deficiency;(3)anemia, and also iron deficiency without anemia, have important consequences in the clinical status and quality of life of the patients;(4)oral iron supplement is limited by poor absorption, intolerance, and induction of oxidative stress at the site of bowel inflammation; (5) intravenous iron sucrose has a high efficiency and a significant improvement in the quality of life; (6)erythropoietin is needed in a significant number of cases to achieve normal hemoglobin levels. "
8.	Phenytoin (Dilantin)FDA LinkGeneric 09/01/1999 - "A case of a patient who developed symptomatic phenytoin-induced folic acid deficiency is reported. " 05/01/1975 - "In vivo, the presence of immunological defects was not related to phenytoin-induced folic acid deficiency. " 06/30/1973 - "[Phenytoin-induced folic acid deficiency]." 01/01/1969 - "Dilantin and folic acid deficiency." 02/01/2002 - "Aplastic anemia induced by phenytoin: a geriatric case with severe folic acid deficiency."
9.	VitaminsIBA 11/01/2000 - "Twenty-three percent of women had biochemical evidence of folic acid deficiency, 26% were deficient in vitamin B-6 and 10% had low vitamin B-12. " 03/01/1999 - "The brain is relatively resistant to folic acid deficiency, indicating specialized transport systems may exist for this vitamin localized within the brain capillary endothelial wall, which makes up the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in vivo. " 07/05/1979 - "[Vitamin B12- and folic acid deficiency. " 11/01/2006 - "There are many reasons for reviewing the neurology of vitamin-B12 and folic-acid deficiencies together, including the intimate relation between the metabolism of the two vitamins, their morphologically indistinguishable megaloblastic anaemias, and their overlapping neuropsychiatric syndromes and neuropathology, including their related inborn errors of metabolism. " 07/01/1993 - "The clear demonstration that periconceptional vitamin supplementation can dramatically reduce the recurrence rate of neural tube defects suggests that folic acid deficiency may be common even in otherwise well-nourished women. "
10.	Leucovorin (Folinic Acid)FDA Link 09/01/2022 - "The relation between the clinical signs presented by the girl and folic acid deficiency was confirmed by the result of laboratory assessment and by the answer to the notable clinical improvement with the renewal of folinic acid treatment. " 09/01/2022 - "The present case shows that the clinical presentation and MRI anomalies of the cerebral folic acid deficiency may be various and unusual compared with those reported in the literature, and it confirms the usefulness of the continuation of folinic acid treatment during the course of the disorder in patients with DHPR deficiency." 06/30/1953 - "[Therapeutic experimentation with citrovorum factor in acute leukemia; folic acid deficiency as the etiopathogenic factor essential in transformation of chronic stage of leukemia into acute]." 02/01/1951 - "Role of aureomycin and citrovorum factor in "folic acid" deficiencies."

Therapies and Procedures

1.	Therapeutics 02/28/1976 - "Letter: Folic acid deficiency during intensive therapy." 02/21/1976 - "Letter: Folic acid deficiency during intensive therapy." 01/01/1976 - "We are less concerned with folic acid deficiency because of its relatively infrequent occurrence in this setting and because a good diet will usually suffice as adequate therapy for the folic acid deficiency when present. " 11/29/1975 - "Letter: Folic acid deficiency during intensive therapy." 11/08/1975 - "Letter: Folic acid deficiency during intensive therapy."
2.	Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) 01/01/2011 - "However, folic acid deficiency was unrelated to either HAART or macrocytosis." 01/01/2011 - "The objective of this study was to correlate the presence of macrocytosis and anemia with HAART use or vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies. "
3.	Diet Therapy (Therapy, Diet) 09/02/2003 - "Epidemiologic findings suggest that high-calorie diets and folic acid deficiency increase the risk for Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease; studies of animal models of these disorders have shown that dietary restriction (reduced calorie intake or intermittent fasting) and dietary supplementation with folic acid can reduce neuronal damage and improve behavioral outcome. "
4.	Drug Therapy (Chemotherapy) 01/01/1991 - "There are sporadic case reports in the literature of its occurrence in association with herpex simplex virus encephalitis (HSVE), purulent meningitis, following chemotherapy for leukaemia, in a child with chronic renal failure, and in a child with folic acid deficiency. " 12/10/2002 - "Response to 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy is modified by dietary folic acid deficiency in Apc(Min/+) mice." 09/01/2006 - "Different factors, including vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency, bone marrow suppression secondary to drug therapy, autoimmune hemolytic anemia and the coexistence of myelodysplastic syndromes are involved in the pathogenesis of anemia in IBD. " 01/01/2022 - "Since folic acid has a shorter half-life (6 hours) and cannot accumulate in the body, unlike vitamin B12 that is stored for a long time in the liver, folic acid deficiency is suspected to be associated with thrombocytopenia induced by post-total gastrectomy chemotherapy. " 04/07/2014 - "While iron deficiency is the most common cause, vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies, along with the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines, hemolysis, drug therapies, and myelosuppression, have also been identified as the underlying etiology in a number of patients. "
5.	Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass) 03/01/1991 - "Several previous investigators have reported an incidence of folic acid deficiency following gastric bypass surgery of up to 38%. " 01/01/2016 - "Vitamin B12, iron and folic acid deficiencies were found in the first and second year following the two bariatric techniques analyzed and were more frequent among individuals submitted to gastric bypass. " 11/01/2014 - "Iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies are among the most common deficiencies occurring after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). "